Subaru's Xavier Pons and
Stobart Ford's
Henning Solberg will both take a step in the unknown on the Rally Japan this week, when they start the event for the very first time.
Neither has made the trip to the Far East before for the Obihiro-based event and as such their main focus will be to learn as much as possible and try and ensure they get right to the end.
"I have never competed in Rally Japan before so I'm not quite sure what to expect," conceded Xevi. "There are long days and a lot of stages which are very technical, so it will be hard.
"But it is an important event for the team so I will push as hard as I can without making mistakes.
"It is important for us to finish the rally and for me to learn as much as I can," he added.
Henning Solberg meanwhile has similar objectives and while he is glad to be getting back onto gravel, like the Rally Catalunya and the Rallye de France-Tour de Corse, he has no prior experience to draw on.
"For the third time this month I am going to another new event. I have never been to Rally Japan before and my approach will be similar to the other two events," he explained.
"The only good thing is that I am back on my preferred surface of gravel. I have heard some things about the stages and I think they will still be difficult for me; the fast, narrow roads with loose gravel will be tricky and it will be easy to get caught out.
"My plan will be to get some experience of the stages before I can really start to push. It will be interesting to get back to gravel as I think I will have learnt some things from the last two tarmac events that may also help my driving on gravel."
